Ṛk-saṃhitā I.13 (text and translation)

The very first Āprī-hymn found in the Ṛgveda-Saṃhitā is the hymn I.13. This hymn consisting of twelve Mantras is ‘seen’ by the seer Medhātithi who is the son of the great seer Kaṇva–tasya kāṇvo medhātithirṛṣiḥ.^[1] This hymn is composed in the gāyatrī-metre—gāyatraṃ cchandaḥ,^[2] for the propitiation of the twelve Āprī-divinities. The first six Mantras and the tenth mantra of this hymn are composed in the usual gāyatrī-metre each with twenty-four syllables, eight in three Pādas each (8+8+8=24). The seventh stanza seems to be composed in the tripadā nicṛt pipīlikamadhyā gāyatrī metre (8+7+8=23). The eighth mantra is also composed in the tripadā nicṛt pipīlikamadhyā gāyatrī metre (8+7+8=23). The ninth mantra is composed in the tripadā nicṛt gāyatrī metre (8+8+7=23). The eleventh stanza, with the first pāda having eight syllables, the second seven, and the third having eight syllables again, is arranged in the tripadā nicṛt pipīlikamadhyā gāyatrī metre (8+7+8=23). With the same construction of Pādas, the twelfth stanza is also composed in the tripadā nicṛt pipīlikāmadhyā gāyatrī metre (8+7+8=23).

Text and Translation of the Ṛk-saṃhitā I.13 

susamiddha na ā vaha devān agne haviṣmate |
hotaḥ pāvaka yakṣi ca || 1 ||

O Well-Kindled Agni! for the the sake of our sacrficer, bring the gods.

And perform the sacrifice [O Agni!], the performer of homa and the purifier.

madhumantaṃ tanūnapādyajñaṃ deveṣu naḥ kave |
adyā kṛṇuhi vītaye || 2 ||

O wise Tanūnapāt [Agni]! carry on this day our tasteful^[3] oblation to the gods for their consumption.

narāśaṃsamiha priyamasminyajña upa hvaye |
madhujihvaṃ haviṣkṛtam || 3 ||

In this place of sacrifice, I invite Narāśaṃsa, who is dear to the gods, who is the one endowed with sweet tongue and is the accomplisher of [sacrificial] oblation.

agne sukhatame rathe devān īḷita ā vaha |
asi hotā manurhitaḥ || 4 ||

O Agni! being propitiated [by us], bring the gods to the place of sacrificial performance on the most comfortable chariot. Established by Manu, you are the inviter of the gods.

stṛṇīta barhirānuṣagghṛtapṛṣṭhaṃ manīṣiṇaḥ |
yatrāmṛtasya cakṣaṇam || 5 ||

O the wise ones! strew the compact barhiṣ, the surface of which is smeared with melted butter, and on which the immortal god Agni known as Barhiṣ, is beheld [over the altar].

vi śrayantāmṛtāvṛdho dvāro devīrasaścataḥ |
adyā nūnaṃ ca yaṣṭave || 6 ||

And may the Divine Doors of the sacrificial chamber, which are the promoters of sacrifice, never sticking, be opened today indeed for the accomplishment of sacrifice.

naktoṣāsā supeśasāsminyajña upa hvaye |
idaṃ no barhirāsade || 7 ||

I invite [the two forms of Agni called] Naktoṣasā, having beautiful appearances, to this on-going sacrificial performance for taking seat on our barhis that have been strewn on the fire-altar.

tā sujihvā upa hvaye hotārā daivyā kavī |
yajñaṃ no yakṣatāmimam || 8 ||

I invite those two well known Divine Hotṛs, having beautiful tongues, [and] intelligence. May they both perform this sacrifice of ours.

iḷā sarasvatī mahī tisro devīrmayobhuvaḥ |
barhiḥ sīdantvasridhaḥ || 9 ||

May the Three Goddesses—Iḷā, Sarasvatī, and Mahī [Bhāratī], the generators of happiness, the never-decaying ones come to the barhis strewn on the fire-altar.

iha tvaṣṭāramagriyaṃ viśvarūpamupa hvaye |
asmākamastu kevalaḥ || 10 ||

I invite [Agni known as] Tvaṣṭṛ, the foremost, having various forms, to this sacrifice. May he be ours alone.

ava sṛjā vanaspate deva devebhyo haviḥ |
pra dāturastu cetanam || 11 ||

O God Vanaspati! deliver the oblation to the gods. May the offerer of the oblation have great wisdom.

svāhā yajñaṃ kṛṇotanendrāya yajvano gṛhe | 
tatra devān upa hvaye || 12 ||

[O Ṛtviks!] with the word svāhā, perform the sacrifice in the dwelling of the sacrificer for the satisfaction of Indra. I invite the gods to the sacrifice.